District hosts reception for new superintendent

Kilgore ISD will host a special reception for incoming superintendent Dr. Andy Baker in the new year to welcome him to Kilgore and allow parents, students, staff and faculty a chance to meet him before classes begin.

At Monday's school board meeting, interim superintendent Mike Morrison announced a special board meeting would be held Friday, Dec. 21 at 9 a.m. so the board can officially vote to hire Baker. Following that, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, a reception for Baker will be held in the Old Post Office on Kilgore St. downtown from 5 to 7 p.m.

That same day, the district will host meet-and-greet events at each campus for the new superintendent.

The meet-and-greet events will be held in the high school cafeteria at 9 a.m., in the Kilgore Primary library at 10 a.m., in the Chandler Elementary library at 11 a.m., in the Kilgore Intermediate library at 1 p.m. and in the Kilgore Middle School library at 2 p.m.

Baker was selected as the lone finalist for the superintendency by unanimous vote at a special board meeting Nov. 30. He was chosen as the prime candidate after a weeks-long search process to narrow down a field of dozens of applicants. By state law, 21 days must pass before a new superintendent can be officially hired, necessitating the special board meeting Dec. 21.

Baker will fill the role left open when former superintendent Cara Cooke resigned in July. Interim superintendent Morrison, former superintendent of Gladewater ISD, has helped lead the district since then.